Sequencer for power supply voltages

ABSTRACT

A sequencer for two power supply voltages includes a master on-off switch, and two transistor switches which operate in response to the closing and then the opening of the master switch to turn on one voltage before the other is turned on, and to turn the one voltage off after the other is turned off. The sequencer is useful, for example, in connection with charge-coupled device apparatus.

This invention relates to initializer or sequencer circuits for switching power supply voltages on and off in a predetermined sequence which may be required by the apparatus to which the power supply voltages are applied. An example of an electronic apparatus requiring a sequential application of, and removal of, power supply voltages is a memory made of a certain type of charge-coupled device integrated circuit memory units.

An example of a sequencer according to the invention includes a master on-off switch, a first transistor switch circuit operative to switch on a first voltage quickly when the master switch is closed, and to switch off the voltage at a delayed time following the opening of the master switch. A second transistor switch circuit is operative to switch on a second voltage at a delayed time following the closing of the master switch, and to switch off the voltage quickly when the master switch is opened.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a sequencer constructed according to the teachings of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a chart of voltage waveforms which will be referred to in describing the operation of the invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the specific example of the invention shown in FIG. 1, a sequencer is shown between input power supply voltage terminals labeled -5 v. DC, +12 v. DC and +5 v. DC at 10, referenced to ground through filter capacitors C₂, C₁ and C₃, and corresponding output power supply voltage terminals at 12. The sequencer includes a master on-off switch 14, which may be a manually-operated switch, having one terminal connected to the -5 v. power supply voltage terminal, and having its other terminal connected through a junction point 15 to a first transistor switch circuit 16 and to a second transistor switch circuit 18.

The first transistor switch circuit 16 includes a PNP transistor Q₂ having a base connected through resistor R₂ and diode CR₃ to the output terminal of the master switch 14, a base-emitter circuit including resistors R₄ and R₆ and a capacitor C₄, and a collector resistor R₇. The collector of transistor Q₂ is connected to the base of NPN transistor Q₄ which has its collector connected to the -5 v. output terminal.

The second transistor switch circuit 18 includes an NPN transistor Q₁ having a base connected through resistor R₃ to ground, and through diode CR₂ to a junction point 20 which is connected through a resistor R₁ to the +12 v. DC input terminal, and through a diode CR₁ to the output terminal of the master switch 14. The collector of transistor Q₁ is connected through a collector resistor R₅ to the +12 v. DC terminal, and to the base of an NPN transistor Q₃ having a base-emitter capacitor C₅. The collector of transistor Q₃ is connected through a coil K of a relay 22 to the +12 v. DC terminal. The relay has sets of switch contacts KA and KB in the lines connecting the +5 v. and +12 v. inputs 10 to the corresponding outputs 12.

The operation of the sequencer of FIG. 1 will now be described with references to the voltage waveforms of FIG. 2. When master on-off switch 14 is in the "off" position shown, none of the power supply voltages at input 10 are supplied to the output 12. The transistor Q₂ is non-conducting or off because base resistor R₄ connected to ground keeps the base at the same potential as the emitter. Transistor Q₄ is also kept off by a lack of base-emitter voltage from across the collector resistor R₇ of transistor Q₂. The output voltage at the collector of transistor Q₄ (C) is zero volts as shown at 30 of waveform (C) of FIG. 2.

When, at time t₁ in FIG. 2, the master switch 14 is closed, it connects -5 v. DC from input 10 through junction point 15, diode CR₃ and resistor R₂ to the base of non-conducting transistor Q₂ in the first transistor switch circuit 16. The negative voltage on the base of transistor Q₂ causes it to turn on, and the resulting voltage drop across collector resistor R₇ causes transistor Q₄ to turn on. When transistor Q₄ is on, the -5 v. at the input 10 is then coupled through the emitter-collector path of transistor Q₄ to the -5 v. output terminal at 12.

During this condition which is illustrated at 32 on waveform 2 (C), the terminal of capacitor C₄ connected to the base of transistor Q₂ becomes negatively charged. Then, at time t₃ when master switch 14 is opened, the charge keeps transistors Q₂ and Q₄ on for a time period, D₁ in FIG. 2, until the capacitor C₄ discharges through resistor R₄. In the described operation of the first transistor switch circuit, the closing of master switch 14 at time t₁ causes a quick turn on of the -5 v. supply, and the opening of the master switch at time t₃ causes a turn-off of the -5 v. supply at a time t₄ after a time delay D₁.

The operation of the second transistor switch circuit 18 will now be described. During the initial condition when the master switch 14 is off, transistor Q₁ is conductive because of the voltage supplied from the +12 v. supply through resistor R₁ and diode CR₂ to the base of the transistor, and transistor Q₃ is non-conductive because of the voltage drop across the collector resistor R₅ of transistor Q₁, that is, because the voltage at the base of transistor Q₃ is lower than the emitter-base threshold voltage V_(T) of transistor Q₃.

When master switch 14 is closed at time t₁, transistor Q₁ is rendered non-conductive because the current previously supplied through resistor R₁ to its base is diverted through diode CR₁ to the negative current sink at point 15. But, with transistor Q₁ off, transistor Q₃ does not turn on until after a time period D₂ during which the capacitor C₅ is charged up to a value which exceeds the threshold voltage V_(T) of Q₃, by current through resistor R₅ from the +12 v. power supply. Therefore, it is not until time t₂ that the collector current of transistor Q₃ operates the relay 22 which connects the +5 v. DC and the +12 v. DC power supplies at input 10 to the corresponding terminals at output 12. This condition is represented at 34 on the waveform (b) of FIG. 2.

At time t₃ when the master switch 14 is opened, transistor Q₁ is quickly rendered conductive, so that it quickly discharges the capacitor C₅, which quickly turns transistor Q₃ off. When transistor Q₃ turns off, contacts K_(A) and K_(B) of relay 22 open and disconnect the +5 v. and +12 v. output voltages at 12. The relay 22 has an operating time of only about 2 milliseconds.

In summary, the operation of the sequencer of FIG. 1 is as illustrated in FIG. 2 where the turning on of the master switch 14 at time t₁ causes a quick turning on of the -5 v. supply, followed by a delayed turning on of the +5 v. and +12 v. supplies. And, the turning off of the master switch 14 at time t₃ causes a quick turn off of the +5 v. and +12 v. supplies, followed by a delayed turning off of the -5 v. supply. The -5 v. supply is turned on before, and remains on longer than, the other two supplies. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sequencer for switching two power supply voltages on and off, comprisinga master on-off switch, a first transistor switch circuit operated by said master switch and operative to switch one of said power supply voltages on and off, said first transistor switch circuit including a first capacitor to cause the circuit to respond after a time delay to the opening of said master switch, and a second transistor switch circuit operated by said master switch and operative to switch the second one of said power supply voltages on and off, said second transistor switch circuit including a second capacitor to cause the circuit to respond after a time delay to the closing of said master switch.
 2. A sequencer as defined in claim 1 wherein said master on-off switch is a manually-operated switch.
 3. A sequencer as defined in claim 2 wherein said first transistor switch circuit includes an input transistor having said first capacitor connected in the base-emitter circuit of the transistor.
 4. A sequencer as defined in claim 3 wherein said first transistor switch circuit includes an output transistor controlled by said input transistor.
 5. A sequencer as defined in claim 4 wherein said second transistor switch circuit includes an input transistor coupled to an output transistor having said second capacitor connected in the base-emitter circuit of said second transistor switch output transistor.
 6. A sequencer as defined in claim 5 wherein a relay is operated by the output transistor in said second transistor switch, and said second relay switches the power supply voltage on and off.
 7. A sequencer as defined in claim 6 wherein said sequencer is powered by said two power supply voltages. 